CONSTITUTION

1997 Constitution which was adopted at York RCPCH meeting in April 1997, revised in August 1999 and agreed at AGM January 2000, revised October 2004 and agreed at January AGM 2005. Further revisions accepted at the 2006 AGM.

Rule 1
The title of the Society shall be “The British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition” hereinafter referred to as “the Society”.

Rule 2
The objects of the Society shall be the advancement of research, clinical excellence and training in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition.

In furtherance of the above objects but no further or otherwise the Society shall:
(i) foster professional relationships with colleagues, both nationally and Internationally.
(ii) organise the Annual Meetings which shall remain the fora at which researchers can present their work.

Rule 3
Alterations to this constitution shall receive the assent of two-thirds of the members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. A resolution for the alteration of the constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Society at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward. At least 14 days notice of such a meeting must be given by the Secretary to the membership and must include notice of the alteration proposed. Provided that no alteration shall be made to Rule 2, Rule 16 or Rule 3 until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained and no alteration shall be made which will have the effect of causing the Society to cease to be a charity in law.

Rule 4
Membership: Full membership shall be available, upon payment of the appropriate fee, to Consultants, Associate specialists, Staff grades, Specialist Registrars, Lecturers, Research Fellows and basic scientists in any speciality who are committed to an area of paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology or nutrition. Only full members will have voting rights at the Annual General Meeting and Special Meetings. Proposals for full membership shall be submitted to the Council by a full member on the Society’s Proposal Form. The Council shall be responsible for deciding on the suitability of applicants for membership of the Society. Those approved for membership will be required to complete a Member’s Registration Form and to pay the Society’s subscription in order to become a member.

Honorary Membership may be conferred by the Society, at the recommendation of Council, upon distinguished colleagues who have made an outstanding contribution to paediatric gastroenterology, whether they be members of the Society or not. Upon retirement, full members may apply in writing to the Secretary to become Honorary Members. Honorary Members are not be required to pay the annual subscription fee and do not have voting rights at the Annual General Meeting nor at Special Meetings.

Associate membership shall be available, upon payment of an appropriate concessionary fee, to any non-medically qualified health professional who is committed to clinical service and/or research in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology or nutrition. Associate members do not have voting rights at the Annual General Meeting nor at Special Meetings.

Rule 5
A member who has been absent from six consecutive meetings of the Society shall be deemed to have allowed their membership to lapse.

Rule 6
Members moving abroad may request to become Corresponding Members and shall pay a Corresponding Membership charge. Membership shall be open to Paediatric Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists from overseas for the duration of their clinical or research attachments in the UK. On their departure they would normally be required to become Corresponding Members if they so desired.

Rule 7
Council: the business of the Society shall be conducted by a Council which shall consist of the President, Secretary, Treasurer and eight other members, one of whom will represent BAPS, one of whom shall be a trainee representative, and one the associate members’ representative. Each of the Society’s 3 main areas of interest (gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition) shall be represented on the Council. There will be at least one council member from a district general hospital. A quorum of four must be present at a Council meeting and must include the President or Secretary.

The President will be elected by a postal ballot of the membership one year prior to taking up office and may attend council meetings as an observer for the twelve month period prior to taking up office. The President will normally be elected in January and take up office in April the following year.

The Secretary and Treasurer and five other members shall be elected either by postal ballot or at the AGM and this will be decided by council at their meeting prior to the election. .

The trainee’s representative will be elected by the trainees group and ratified at the AGM. The associate members’ representative and the paediatric surgeon (who represents BAPS) will be nominated by their respective groups. The organiser of the winter meeting will be co-opted onto council.

Rule 8
The President, Secretary, Treasurer and other members of Council shall normally serve for a period of 3 years.

Rule 9
The President shall:
(a) preside at Business Meetings of the Society and chair meetings of Council;
(b) be authorised to speak on both academic and administrative issues. The Secretary may attend meetings as their deputy;(c) authorise an appropriate member of the Society, who need not be a member of the Council, to represent the views of the Society to other Associations and Societies and, in particular, shall ensure that the Society is represented at deliberations of the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS), the British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL) and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN).

Rule 10
The Secretary shall:
(a) keep minutes of Business Meetings of the Council;
(b) prepare the Agenda and take minutes of the Business Meetings of the Society;
(c) maintain a current list of members and their addresses;
(d) maintain an archive of documents pertaining to the history and development of the Society
(e) deputise for the President;
(f) represent the Society at meetings of Convenors of the specialty groups of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Rule 11
The Treasurer shall:
(a) be responsible for the collection and banking of annual subscription fees
(b) be responsible for the payment of bills incurred by the Society out of the Society’s Bank Account
(c) submit annually to the Society a statement of accounts

Rule12
Two meetings shall be held annually:
(a) The Spring Meeting shall be held in association with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and shall consist of original scientific contributions. It may include such guest lectures, symposia or joint sessions with other paediatric specialty groups as the Council shall determine.

Papers submitted to the Society for the Spring Meeting, using abstract forms and submission procedures of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, shall be chosen by Council. In general, papers will be accepted on the understanding that they have not been published or read at a national or international meeting before the Society’s scientific meeting.

Papers shall be spoken not read.

By providing clear guidelines of the acceptable standards for abstract preparation, slide preparation and presentation, the Society shall foster excellence in scientific presentation and discussion.

(b) The Winter Meeting shall be held annually.

Rule 13
Funding: A membership fee shall be paid as determined by Council. Registration and accommodation at meetings held in association with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health or with the British Society of Gastroenterology shall be administered by those societies. The organiser of the winter meeting will provide a financial plan and statement of accounts to the society. 75% of profit made will be returned to the society with 25% being kept by the local organisers. Financial arrangements for autonomous meetings shall be made by local organisers.

Rule 14
The proceedings of meetings of the Society shall be regarded as confidential

Rule 15
Members wishing to relinquish full membership shall have the opportunity of resignation or adoption of Corresponding Membership.

Rule 16
The Society may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose, of which 21 days notice shall have been given to the members. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Society, provided that any property shall to be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institution having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society as the Society may determine and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to the provision then to some other charitable purpose.

M.S. Murphy
Convener of BSPGHAN
January 2006

Click here to view previous constitutions 1999 or 2005

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